Category: Forest Preserve of Cook County

The 7 Most-Popular Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in March 2026

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, biking, birdwatching, breweries, camping, canoeing, Chicago, fall colors, fishing, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Forest Preserve of Cook County, hiking, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, Lake County Forest Preserves, Lake County Illinois attractions, local history, Minnesota, nature centers, prairies, spring wildflowers, Upper Peninsula of Michigan, waterfalls, winter activities, Wisconsin

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG In case you missed them, these were the seven most-popular articles last month at my blog, Nature in Chicagoland, based on reader viewing statistics. Click on the links below to access the articles.  1. 10 Places to See Bison in the Midwest 2. Palmisano Park: A … Continue reading The 7 Most-Popular Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in March 2026

Celebrating the Ninth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, biking, birdwatching, botanical gardens and arboretums, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, Chicago River, Chicago stories, fall colors, family and friends stories, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF KANE COUNTY, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Forest Preserve of Cook County, hiking, holiday gifts, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, kids activities, Lake County Forest Preserves, Lake Michigan, MCHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT, National Park Service, nature centers, prairies, spring wildflowers, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG Today is the ninth anniversary of the founding of my blog, Nature in Chicagoland, and I’m so happy to have written more than 300 articles about woods, wetlands, prairies, lakes, and other natural areas in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. I’m pleased that my … Continue reading Celebrating the Ninth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

The 7 Most-Popular Stories at My Nature in Chicagoland Blog in February 2026

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, biking, birdwatching, books, breweries, camping, canoeing, canyons, cemeteries, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, Chicago stories, cross-country skiing, eskers, fall colors, Forest Preserve of Cook County, glacial kames, hiking, Illinois, Illinois Nature preserves, kayaking, kids activities, Lake Michigan, nature centers, prairies, sledding, snowshoeing, spring wildflowers, volunteering, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG In case you missed them, these were the seven most-popular articles last month at my blog, Nature in Chicagoland, as selected by my readers. Click on the link below to access the articles.  1. Sixteen South Chicagoland Nature Wonders: Great Destinations on the South Side … Continue reading The 7 Most-Popular Stories at My Nature in Chicagoland Blog in February 2026

Co-author of Beer Hiking Chicago Discusses Great Nature and Hops Spots

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, birdwatching, books, breweries, canyons, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, fall colors, Forest Preserve of Cook County, hiking, holiday gifts, Illinois, Indiana, kids activities, spring wildflowers, Wisconsin

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG AND BOOK Jessica Sedgwick and her son Selden at Indiana Dunes Exploring natural areas in the Chicago area is fun in itself, given the wide range of our natural habitats (e.g., prairies, forests, canyons, lakes, rivers). But, it's even better when you can … Continue reading Co-author of Beer Hiking Chicago Discusses Great Nature and Hops Spots

Dan Ryan Woods: Urban Opportunities for Hiking, Biking, Picnicking, Fitness, and Winter Fun–Plus 20 Places to Hang Out in Beverly After Your Visit

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, biking, birdwatching, Chicago, fall colors, Forest Preserve of Cook County, hiking, Illinois, kids activities, local history, sledding, snowshoeing, spring wildflowers, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG Only a small percentage of Forest Preserves of Cook County land is located within the city limits of Chicago, and Dan Ryan Woods on the city's South Side is one of these properties. For more than a century, it’s been a popular place for … Continue reading Dan Ryan Woods: Urban Opportunities for Hiking, Biking, Picnicking, Fitness, and Winter Fun–Plus 20 Places to Hang Out in Beverly After Your Visit

My Favorite 32 Photos That I Took Last Year

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, astronomy, birdwatching, Chicago, Chicago stories, conservation, Driftless Region, far, far away from Chicago, Forest Preserve of Cook County, Galena Illinois, gardening, hiking, Illinois, Illinois Nature preserves, Ireland, Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, kids activities, Northern Lights, photography, prairies, skywatching, spring wildflowers, winter activities, Wisconsin

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG I love photography and took a gazillion photos last year. Okay, I don’t have a firm number but take my word for it that I took MANY photos—of nature, family, friends, concerts, bars, bands, cool architecture, art, historical spots, you name it. I’m sure most … Continue reading My Favorite 32 Photos That I Took Last Year

Petition Seeks to Bring Stand-Up Paddleboarding to Forest Preserves of Cook County Properties

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, Forest Preserve of Cook County, Illinois, kids activities, stand-up paddleboarding

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” You can kayak and canoe on Busse Lake, Tampier Lake, the Des Plaines River, Camp Bullfrog Lake, the Skokie Lagoons, and other waterways in Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) properties. You can even pilot a fishing boat with a small motor on some FPCC waterways. … Continue reading Petition Seeks to Bring Stand-Up Paddleboarding to Forest Preserves of Cook County Properties

McClaughrey Springs Woods: Beautiful Spring Flowers and Fall Colors and a Birding Hotspot

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, biking, birdwatching, cross-country skiing, fall colors, Forest Preserve of Cook County, hiking, Illinois, kids activities, prairies, snowshoeing, spring wildflowers, volunteering, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND BLOG There’s nothing like a bird sighting to bring people together in nature. After parking at McClaughrey Springs Woods, I began walking toward a bridge that overlooks Mill Creek, which meanders through the preserve. Several men with tripods, cameras, and lenses that seemed longer than baseball bats … Continue reading McClaughrey Springs Woods: Beautiful Spring Flowers and Fall Colors and a Birding Hotspot

Celebrating the Eighth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, astronomy, biking, birdwatching, books, botanical gardens and arboretums, bouldering, camping, canoeing, canyons, cemeteries, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, Chicago River, Chicago stories, climbing, conservation, conservatories, cross-country skiing, Des Plaines River, Driftless Region, election candidates, eskers, fall colors, family and friends stories, far, far away from Chicago, farms, fens, fiction, fishing, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF KANE COUNTY, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Forest Preserve of Cook County, Galena Illinois, gardening, ghost hunting, glacial kames, hiking, holiday gifts, horseback riding, Iceland, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, Indiana, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, insects, Iowa, Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Jordan, Kansas, kayaking, kids activities, Lake County Forest Preserves, Lake County Illinois attractions, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lee County (IL), local history, MCHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT, meteorology, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, museums, music, National Park Service, Native American History, nature art, nature calendars, nature centers, Nature Conservancy, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, orchids, Pennsylvania, pets, photography, poems, politics and the environment, prairies, presidents, product reviews, Rockford, Illinois, settlers and Indians, skywatching, sledding, snowshoeing, social issues, social justice, South Dakota, spring wildflowers, train travel, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. history, Upper Peninsula of Michigan, volunteering, waterfalls, winter activities, Wisconsin, zoos

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” Today is the eighth anniversary of the founding of my blog, “Nature in Chicagoland,” and I’m so happy to have written nearly 300 articles about woods, wetlands, prairies, lakes, and other natural areas in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. I’m pleased that my articles on … Continue reading Celebrating the Eighth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

The Orchid Show Provides a Blast of Color and Beauty During the Cold Winter Months in Chicagoland

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, botanical gardens and arboretums, Forest Preserve of Cook County, Illinois, kids activities, orchids

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND BLOG Please note: This article was written and published in 2025, but the Orchid Show is held each year with a different theme. The 2026 theme is Feelin’ Groovy (1960s/1970s). The show runs through March 22, 2026. Here are four photos from the 2026 Orchid Show, courtesy … Continue reading The Orchid Show Provides a Blast of Color and Beauty During the Cold Winter Months in Chicagoland